May 28, 2018

I absolutely hate working out! These people who love sweating, stretching, running, and burning lots of calories, let’s just say I don’t get it! I had rather eat, sleep, and be normal if you know what I mean. The main reason I don’t pump iron is because I value being comfortable more than being physically fit. Getting in shape has a high price tag attached to it. It is interesting that the apostle Paul uses physical fitness as a metaphor to describe what our spiritual life should look like. In 1 Timothy 4:8 the Word of God says, “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and the life to come.” The previous verse says, “train yourself to be godly,” this illustrates the process of spiritual growth. We are to go and make disciples of all nations. The root of disciple is discipline. We should be consistently stretching our faith, running the race, and lifting burdens off broken people. Our spiritual muscles should feel the burn as we seek to grow in Christlikeness. Those who are committed to getting in shape watch their diet, increase the movement in their life, and stretch their muscles to a point that it causes pain. We as believers are called to monitor our spiritual diet, continually consuming the Word of God! Job said that he esteemed the words of God, more than his necessary food. We are called to prioritize the spiritual above the natural. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God! Believers are called to increase the spiritual movement in their life through walking in the Spirit and embracing the command of prayer. Prayer is not a suggestion, it’s a command we are called to obey. If spiritually we do not feel the burn that comes with growth, then we are not growing! Here are three essentials for Spiritual Growth:

Hebrews 10:35 says “do not throw away your confidence…remember the great reward it brings you!” Confidence comes from knowing that God believes in you! He is with you on this journey of growth, infusing his Grace into your heart. God gives us a grace to embrace the challenge of growth because he believes in us. Confidence grows when you hide God’s word in your heart.

We as believers are seeking to fulfill a hunger that goes beyond the stomach! The word of God says we are to hunger and thirst after Righteousness. Righteousness is God’s way of doing things. It’s God’s ways being formed in your heart. Spiritual fitness is the result of focused desire. We must focus our heart hunger on the ways of God. The word of God says that we are to desire the things of God, it’s a choice that we make. We should pray for a greater hunger for God!

Measurable Goals. Without a vision, or measurable goals, effectiveness is dissolved. If we take care of today, then tomorrow can be different. If we do not sacrifice for what we want today, then what we want tomorrow will be sacrificed. We should have daily goals that are attainable. Something as small as praying ten more minutes is valuable to the process of growth. The same way ten more minutes in the gym would help anyone, ten more minutes of prayer/bible reading can increase growth in your life!